Turf overseeding apparatus and methods

Abstract

A seeder ( 10 ) includes multiple cutting head units ( 30 ) pivotally mounted to a jack shaft ( 24 ) of a frame ( 12 ) and spring biased downwardly by hold downs ( 80 ). Each multiple cutting head unit ( 30 ) includes multiple roller blades ( 36 ) received on an axle ( 34 ) rotatably mounted in a carrier ( 32 ) and in gearing relation to the jack shaft ( 24 ). The roller blades ( 36 ) include a series of oppositely formed, circumferentially spaced radially extending indentations ( 36 a ) extending from a continuous, smooth periphery at a constant extent from the axle ( 34 ). Fingers ( 46 ) extending between the roller blades ( 36 ) are pivotally mounted to the carrier ( 32 ) to adjust the depth of the slits formed by the roller blades ( 36 ). Each hose ( 98 ) extending from a seed box ( 96 ) diverts seed into adjacent slits immediately after the roller blades ( 36 ).

1. Seeder comprising, in combination: a frame for movement along a seeding surface desired to be seeded in a seeding direction; a seed box mounted to the frame; multiple cutting head assemblies independently pivotally mounted to the frame, with each of the multiple cutting head assemblies including a carrier, a blade assembly rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the blade assembly including a plurality of roller blades arranged in a spaced parallel relation and rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis, with each of the plurality of roller blades forming slits into the seeding surface, with the carrier pivotally mounted to the frame, a seed distributor distributing seeds into the slits formed by the plurality of roller blades in the seeding surface, and spring biased hold downs extending between the frame and the carrier exerting down pressure on the cutting head assembly; and a seed tube extending between the seed box and the seed distributor allowing relative movement of the seed box and the seed distributor. 
   
   
     2. The seeder of  claim 1  with the roller blades being driven at a numerical speed different than if free rotating when engaging the seeding surface while moving in the seeding direction. 
   
   
     3. The seeder of  claim 1  with each of multiple cutting head assemblies further comprising an axle rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the plurality of roller blades being non-rotatably received on the axle; and a sprocket secured to the axle for driving the axle and the plurality of roller blades non-rotatably received thereon. 
   
   
     4. The seeder of  claim 3  further comprising, in combination: a jack shaft rotatably mounted to the frame and driven for rotation, with the carrier of each of the cutting head assemblies being pivotally mounted to the jack shaft for independently pivotally mounting the cutting head assembly to the frame, with the jack shaft being in gearing relation to the sprocket of each of the cutting head assemblies. 
   
   
     5. Seeder comprising, in combination: a frame for movement along a seeding surface desired to be seeded in a seeding direction; multiple cutting head assemblies independently pivotally mounted to the frame, with each of the multiple cutting head assemblies including a carrier, a blade assembly rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the blade assembly including a plurality of roller blades arranged in a spaced parallel relation and rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis, with each of the plurality of roller blades forming slits into the seeding surface, with the carrier pivotally mounted to the frame, a seed distributor distributing seeds into the slits formed by the plurality of roller blades in the seeding surface, and spring biased hold downs extending between the frame and the carrier exerting down pressure on the cutting head assembly, with the roller blades being driven at a numerical speed different than if free rotating when engaging the seeding surface while moving in the seeding direction. 
   
   
     6. The seeder of  claim 5  further comprising, in combination: a jack shaft rotatably mounted to the frame and driven for rotation, with the carrier of each of the cutting head assemblies being pivotally mounted to the jack shaft for independently pivotally mounting the cutting head assembly to the frame, with the jack shaft being in rotational relation with the blade assembly of each of the multiple cutting head assemblies. 
   
   
     7. The seeder of  claim 6  with each of multiple cutting head assemblies further comprising an axle rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the plurality of roller blades being non-rotatably received on the axle; and a sprocket secured to the axle for driving the axle and the plurality of roller blades non-rotatably received thereon, with the jack shaft being in gearing relation to the sprocket of each of the cutting head assemblies. 
   
   
     8. Cutting head assembly comprising, in combination: a carrier for movement relative to a seeding surface in a seeding direction; a blade assembly rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the blade assembly including a plurality of roller blades arranged in a spaced parallel relation and rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis, with the roller blades forming slits into the seeding surface; and a plurality of fingers arranged in a spaced parallel relation, with each of the plurality of fingers located intermediate adjacent roller blades of the plurality of roller blades, with the plurality of fingers engaging the seeding surface intermediate the plurality of roller blades and the slits formed thereby, with the plurality of fingers being adjustably mounted to the carrier to adjust spacing of the plurality of fingers from the rotation axis of the plurality of roller blades to provide depth adjustment of the slits formed by the plurality of roller blades. 
   
   
     9. The cutting head assembly of  claim 8  further comprising, in combination: a support pivotally mounted to the carrier about a support axis parallel to and spaced from the rotation axis, with the plurality of fingers mounted to the support for movement therewith. 
   
   
     10. The cutting head assembly of  claim 9  further comprising, in combination: a first mast extending from the support; a second mast extending from the carrier and a movable relative to the first mast with pivotable movement of the carrier, with the first and second masts being removably secured to the each other spaced from the support axis; a lost motion slot formed in one of the first and second masts; and a bolt carried by the other of the first and second masts and extending through the lost motion slot for removably securing the first and second masts together. 
   
   
     11. Cutting head assembly comprising, in combination: a carrier for movement relative to a seeding surface in a seeding direction; at least one roller blade rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis and forming a slit into the seeding surface, with the roller blade including a continuous, smooth periphery at a constant extent from the rotation axis, with the roller blade including a series of oppositely formed, circumferentially spaced and radially extending indentations extending from the continuous, smooth periphery; and a seed distributor for placing seed into the slit created by the roller blade without enlargement immediately adjacent the roller blade in the seeding direction. 
   
   
     12. The cutting head assembly of  claim 11  with the roller blade being driven at a numerical speed different than if free rotating when engaging the seeding surface while moving in the seeding direction. 
   
   
     13. The cutting head assembly of  claim 12  further comprising, in combination: an axle rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the at least one roller blade comprising a plurality of roller blades, with the plurality of roller blades being non-rotatably received on the axle; and a sprocket secured to the axle for driving the axle and the plurality of roller blades non-rotatably received thereon. 
   
   
     14. Method of seeding comprising: slitting a seeding surface in a seeding direction by rotating at least one roller blade including a continuous, smooth periphery at a constant extent from a rotation axis with the roller blade including a series of oppositely formed, circumferentially spaced and radially extending indentations extending from the continuous, smooth periphery; and inserting seed into the slit created by the roller blade without enlargement and immediately adjacent the roller blade in the seeding direction. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 14  with rotating the at least one roller blade comprising rotating the at least one roller blade at a numerical speed different than if free rotating when engaging the seeding surface while moving in the seeding direction. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 15  with rotating the at least one blade comprising rotating the at least one roller blade in a direction opposite than if free rotating when engaging the seeding surface while moving in the seeding direction. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 16  with rotating the at least one roller blade comprising rotating an axle including multiple roller blades non-rotatably received thereon. 
   
   
     18. Seeder comprising, in combination: a cutting head assembly including multiple instrumentalities each forming a slit into a seeding surface when moved in a seeding direction; a seed box holding seeds to be seeded and having multiple outlets, with the multiple outlets being substantially less in number than the multiple instrumentalities, with the multiple instrumentalities including a first instrumentality adjacent a second instrumentality, the second instrumentality adjacent a third instrumentality, and the third instrumentality adjacent a fourth instrumentality, with the second and third instrumentalities located intermediate the first and fourth instrumentalities, with the multiple outlets including a first outlet adjacent a second outlet, with the seed from the first outlet being directed to the first and second instrumentalities and from the second outlet being directed to the third and fourth instrumentalities. 
   
   
     19. The seeder of  claim 18  further comprising, in combination:
 at least first and second diverters, with the multiple outlets each including a tube, with the tube of the first outlet communicating with the first diverter, with the first diverter directing the seed from the first outlet to the first and second instrumentalities, with the tube of the second outlet communicating with the second diverter, with the second diverter directing the seed from the second outlet to the third and fourth instrumentalities. 
 
   
   
     20. The seeder of  claim 19  further comprising, in combination: a seed distributor carried by the cutting head assembly, with the first and second diverters located in and carried as a unit in the seed distributor, with the seed distributor being in the form of a box having a closed leading side and a closed trailing side, with the leading side located ahead of the trailing side in the seeding direction, with the first and second diverters extending between the leading and trailing sides, with the first and second diverters having wedged-shaped cross-sections perpendicular to the seeding direction, with the wedged-shaped cross-sections including an upper edge and first and second lower edges spaced from each other perpendicular to the seeding direction, with the tube of the first outlet terminating adjacent the upper edge of the first diverter and the tube of the second outlet terminating adjacent to the upper edge of the second diverter.